Marissa's POVGoing home was heavy, knowing that my day did not end well. The coffee Diego Montero ordered for me might have been thrown away. Or maybe he canceled and paid for it. Not this time, though. He cannot upset me and Brylle and then just pay for it just to compensate for what he has done.When I opened the door of my apartment, my head became even more heated as I forgot to pay my visitation for my grandmother. Instead, I just called the number of her caretaker and inquired for her. This is all Diego's fault! He messed it all up!My phone kept ringing on the side table, but I just ignored it, for I knew that it would be only Diego who flooded me with a lot of texts and calls. I read his texts. I glared at his name from the screen whenever his name shows up as he calls. In the end, I just did not mind him, because I do not want to forgive what he did. I sighed and stared at the wall of my apartment room, my mind was busy recalling the encounter I had with Brylle a while ago.I
Marissa's POV"You see..." I played with my fingers. "I have a contract with Mr. Diego Montero. If I agree to it, he would pay all of my grandmother's hospital bills. He would also refer me to a good job in New York, and you best know that it is my dream city, right? So I signed it, for my grandmother's sake and the achievement of my long time dream...""Okay?" she simply said and prepared the wine bottle from the marble table in front of us. She opened it and began to pour the two wine glasses. "What is the contract all about, Marissa?"I bit my lower lip. "I will marry him, and give him a baby," I revealed, which she slowly turned around and dropped her jaw. I immediately explained the details before she fully reacted. "Look, it will just be a quick marriage. After I give him a baby, he will make me leave. The reason is that her mother is dying months from now, and his father is having an affair. His mother's wish before she dies is seeing him have a family, because she believes her
Marissa’s POVThe beauty of the night was distracting me from focusing on his annoying face. The color of his corporate attire matched the silver moon above, illuminating where he was, like a spotlight. Even though I do not want it to look like it was me hallucinating, I cannot deny that everything around him makes him attractive, and yet he is the person I know who has the darkest, insensitive heart.“We don’t have anything to talk about,” I said coldly and started to walk, planning to avoid his direction and almost pass by him, but he only grabbed my hand to stop me. I glared hard at him so he would know that I did not like the situation here. “Can you let me go now? I said I have no time for you!”The more I protested, the more his hand tightened on my wrist. I could sense that he was beginning to be pissed. He was gritting his teeth, widening his eyes, and his face shaking. I know that expression. He will eventually rain many insults on me. It has been a thing he does to me and ot
Marissa’s POV“I am m sorry,” he mumbled. “I cannot go back to when you and your suitor were arguing because of me. But let me make it up to you. I will do anything for you to forgive me.”“How? By giving me stupid flowers and gifts? Or offering me huge money in exchange for invalidating my feelings right now?” I sarcastically said while raising my eyebrow.“You think lowly of me,” he concluded. “I thought you know me, Marissa.”“Yes, I know you! You tend to blame others instead of taking accountability!” I said.“Then you are just only looking at my bad sides,” he said and smiled in pain which made me confused. “I guess I was wrong.”Awkward silence interfered with us, and it made me uncomfortable. I have said a lot of things and did not even once think of taking them back. He has to know what he did because I am so sick of understanding him.But why do I feel so guilty suddenly?“I know that what I did was bad, causing you to react like this. That is why I did something that could m
Marissa’s POVI opened the main door of my apartment and locked it when I was ready to leave. The gate was wide open, so I could see the Aston Martin Diego Montero owned beside him while he was waiting for me. I sighed before I started walking towards him.Again, I touched every part of my dress and felt my purpose, trying to breathe every minute. Okay, Marissa. You just have to be strong. Remember what Nica said? You have to just apologize to Brylle and explain your side. Do your best to make him understand. He will not have second thoughts just to forgive you. You can’t endure not forgiving someone you love. If the heart wants it, it will be able to do its best to get you back.I took a deep breath while still walking. Diego must have heard my heels, so he immediately turned his head to me. His lips parted as if he was amused, his gaze hovering over my entire appearance. It was awkward because it was as if I was displaying myself to impress him. Tss.“Hi,” he greeted with a ghost of
Marissa's POV“I see that Brylle likes you. Men nowadays cannot endure pursuing women that long. They tend to jump from one to another,” he shared. “Why?” I smirked. “Are you one of these stupid men?”I crossed my arms and comfortably leaned against the backrest of the passenger’s seat. I sighed.“That is why I do not trust men generally. I have a best friend whose name is Nica. I witnessed her cry with multiple men she dated and how they just left her like she was trash they could throw anytime. I mean, why do they say that to women who genuinely love them through best and worst times?”“Hey, so are you considering me one of them?” he asked.“Well, I do not. I did not hear anyone say that you fell in love with someone,” I said. "You seem like a lone wolf who does not find socializing interesting. So it only leads to a conclusion that dating is just not indispensable to you."He furrowed his eyebrows briefly, glanced at me meaningfully, and then shook his head. "That is where you are
Marissa’s POVMy heart and my mind were both cloudy as I stared through the car window. Questions haunted me as we left the restaurant, asking myself what just happened.What did Brylle mean that Nica is his girlfriend? And why did Nica stand up like she was even proud of it? What the hell happened?Brylle and Nica. They were both important to me. We have been together for so long. If my trust was placed in people, it would be them as my first choice. Even though they never got along together because Brylle acted as my suitor, while Nica served as my confidant, they were the ones I entrusted my care and devotion to all my life. I had no parents. No mass of friends. No relatives. No people see me as a dear person to me.An independent woman would only lean on people who truly care for her and would trade anything in the world just to display loyalty. In that way, she would also return the favor. Even everything that she has for them.My grandmother is currently hospitalized. My best fr
Marissa's POVHe turned on the GPS of his car and looked for an exclusive bar near our location. I could not wait to indulge myself in a random party where random people could join me in dancing. I can imagine being so foreign to new things, but I know I am adaptable. And I hope I will enjoy every bit of it. At last, we parked in the parking lot of the nearby bar and there were numerous sports cars, owned by obvious young adults and party people inside. I opened the door of the car and removed Diego's coat from my shoulders."Are you sure about this?" Diego asked as he got out of his car.I first threw his coat on his passenger's seat before regarding him. I closed the car door and nodded in enthusiasm."I am sure about this, Diego," I said and winked at him. "Let's go?"Before he could even refuse, I had already dragged his hand inside without hesitation. He told me to be casual towards him and be comfortable when we are together, so I do not think he would mind inviting him to the t
MARISSA’S POV“Are you really sure about talking to him?” Brylle asked as he hid my view of Diego who was sitting on the couch in the living room.I sighed while I was crossing my arms. “He wanted to see and know about our daughter,” I said. “What should I do? Deny? He already knew before he could even reach here.”“But you vowed to yourself that you will never see him,” he said firmly and furrowed his eyebrows. “Don’t tell me that you still have feelings for him, Marissa.”I remembered how Diego kissed me a while ago, and I felt so guilty in front of Brylle. Ever since I left the Philippines, he was the one who comforted me together with Nica. They were both supportive of Lilith and I. So I know that he is just worried about me seeing Diego.I could not help but avoid my gaze. I saw from my peripheral vision that he nodded, as if he just confirmed something.“You still love him,” he reckoned.“I have been prepared for making Lilith meet her father,” I stated, meeting his gaze again.
I felt my heart drop when I saw Diego Montero entering the backyard with Lilith holding his hand and pulling him to her friends. Diego’s expression was mixed with confusion and surprise. The guests barely cared, because in their minds, Diego must just be a guest. “What is he doing here, Marissa?” Nica asked as I followed her going outside the house. “Do you think I know?” I exclaimed and muttered a crisp curse. “So why is he holding Lilith?” “I don’t know!” Nica and I kept exchanging frustrated mumbles because we have no idea why Diego was here. How did he even know my address? “Sir, you can get a slice of cake at the buffet table,” Lilith even said and pointed at the table with her head looking up to Diego. I was taken aback that I could not help and snatch her hand away when I got to the both of them. Diego parted his lips as he looked at me, his eyes digging into mine and searching answers from the questions he must be having in his mind. Out of urge, I held Lilith and moved
MARISSA’S POV“We have nothing to talk about,” I firmly said and dropped his hand. “Why don’t you go home to your family now, huh?”Before he could see the tears stinging at the sides of my eyes, I turned my back on him and went straight to my car with my heart beating fast and my mind so cloudy with memories. When I got inside my car and looked in front of me, his car was already running towards the exit, leaving me in the indoor parking lot of the company.I wanted to break down and hold my chest while mentally saying that everything would be alright. Whatever the reason he is here is solely none of my business. Whether he has a family or not, I don’t need him in my daughter’s life.But wait a minute, how did he know that we had a daughter? And did Madame Margarita Montero tell him about what we both agreed on in order for me to leave Diego?Nonetheless, what is done is done. I can’t go back to the past anymore. I have a life here in New York with my daughter. I may not be happy jus
MARISSA’S POV I only snapped when Mrs. Rivera called me. I regarded her who was eyeing me up and down, weirded out by why I was wet. Even Diego was also coldly staring at me, couldn't care less that I was in front of him. He did not even flinch, as if he had already expected that I am here. In New York! “I… I’ll just change, madame. I’m sorry. Excuse me…” I did not waste time and immediately turned my back in order to escape from that stupid embarrassment. My little run with my high heels was awkward as I made my way to the washroom. I gave a message to Ms. Desmon to find me a pair of clothes from my locker and fix myself. “Shit, what was he doing here?!” I said in panic as I paced back and forth inside the cubicle. “He can’t be here. I mean, he can, but for all the places on Earth, why here?!” And he has a wife. And a child. It’s just five years, and he has already moved on? Or am I the only one who distinguished five years to be a shorter time? “Ma’am, here are your clothes.”
“Are you okay, ma’am? You seemed stressed. Do you want me to get you some coffee?” an assistant of mine asked me when she noticed me staring at the wall of my office.“Huh? Oh!” I exclaimed and almost panicked, but I stopped myself and just grabbed the paperwork in front of me. “Don’t mind me. Just please get to work.”Shit. I did not like the idea of not focusing on my work enough and being distracted by what had happened last night with Madame Zeana. Everything she said seemed so absurd to me and impossible.How could she be my mother? She lives in the US, and I lived with my grandmother in the Philippines. I had a simple and convenient life as an assistant, while she is the most luxurious woman who people have known, bringing success from her business and showbiz. Now I could not imagine her kneeling yesterday in front of me, just so I could forgive her.I clenched my fist, crumbling the paper inside my hand.“Ma’am, you are destroying the contract…”“Oh, shit…” I cussed and looked
Marissa’s POV“I don’t understand why you are here,” the first thing I said to Madame Zen who was in front of me. “I don’t even have an idea how you tracked me.”The nanny of my son placed the two cups of tea on the dining table. I am currently sitting in the capital opposite to Madame Zen. She was wearing a fancy cardigan and above the knee leather skirt. Her Louis Vuitton mini bag was even boasting itself that she put on the corner of the dining table. Her sparkling success was very shiny that I had to clear my throat and mind who I was talking to.Madame Zen stared at me for a while before the corners of her lips rose a little. “I have tracked you down ever since you came here in New York. The last minute that I could not see you in the Philippines, I got worried, so I hired a private investigator just to find you.”I was so overwhelmed by what she spilled that I laughed in amusement and sipped on my tea. My head was shaking in disbelief because I thought she was just throwing a jo
Marissa's POV For five years, I only wanted to take care of Lilith, my daughter, as we left the Philippines to start a new life and a new career. After my grandmother died last year, I knew that I had to be strong for the steering wheel that I had been controlling all my life to be steady. Grandma was the reason I wanted to live for a long time. Now, it was Lilith. "Mom, I told you that I wanted to play in the park with my nanny. Why would you not let me?" Lilith said as she stomped her little feet under the dining table. I turned to her while fixing the valuable things inside my bag. Her nanny, on the other hand, was helping her eat breakfast. My beautiful daughter was looking up at me while pouting her lips. Her hair was already done into ponytails and is currently wearing the dress I just bought for her in the mall. "No," I said and smiled at her. "The park is too dangerous, my love. You have to understand me." "Nanny! Help me!" she said and then looked at Nanny Elisa. Nanny
Marissa’s POV I could feel the discrete and watchful stares of Nica and Brylle in front of me. I was just staring at the hot coffee inside a huge mug in front of me. They made sure I ate today, even though it was not a lot. It already satisfied them that I had something in my stomach. “I know you won’t open up to us,” Nica said in the middle of the deafening silence. “But I want you to know that Brylle and I will be here for you.” My eyes slowly darted on both of them. They were beside each other and their hands underneath were obviously intertwined just by the visual of their hands together. The only thing that was separating us was the dining table. Currently, we are in the dining area in front of me. The night was still young. “I am leaving tomorrow,” I started with a lump on my throat, but my eyes are already tired from crying. “And I don’t know if I will be back.” “What?” Brylle exclaimed. “What do you mean?” “Madame Margarita was the primary reason why my contract with Di
Marissa’s POV“Brylle! Oh, my goodness! What happened to you?!” Nica exclaimed in shock.The moment I let her inside the apartment, Nica rushed to Brylle who was caressing the white plaster on his right cheek. She was pressing his wound, while he kept telling her that it was alright. I could not help but furrow my eyebrows at how they care for each other. I can see it. “Marissa,” Nica mumbled my name and stood up so he could face me. “Who did this to him?”I crossed my arms after I locked the door of the living room. “It was Diego Montero,” I answered. “I am sorry.”Her expression changed from a serious one to a concerned one. The moment she did that, I already retreated. I shook my head.“We can talk tomorrow. For now, you should rest together with Brylle. Spend the night. I already prepared everything in my grandmother’s room. You can use it,” I said. “I’ll go to my room now.”I did not let her speak anymore and turned my back on them already. I could feel her stares following me